KPS 2010-2012

In Austria, the quality of ground and surface water is monitored since the early 90's. About 2000 groundwater and 240 river water sites are sampled regularly and analysed for numerous inorganic and organic parameters in a countrywide measurement network. The exact range and frequency of the water analyses are legally regulated. This permanent and comprehensive measurement programme requires reliable and accurate results of analysis. In 1995 the Centre for Analytical Chemistry at the IFA-Tulln started to build up a PT scheme for external quality assurance in water analysis on behalf of the Austrian Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, Environment and Water Management. Since then this scheme was extended to a multiplicity of inorganic and organic parameters. It is an important part of the country-wide measurement programme. The PT scheme is open to all laboratories that are interested in testing their analytical performance. In the year 2002 over 200 European laboratories participated in our PT scheme.